“Los Plantados” were Cuban political prisoners, who received brutal mistreatment from the Castro dictatorship’s jailers; yet maintained a firm, stoic position, without surrendering, against the harsh physical, mental and humiliating conditions inflicted by the henchmen of Fidel Castro’s regime. They were publicly humiliated, stabbed with bayonets, attacked with machetes, endured blows from heavy chains, stripped naked and left this way for years at a time, while being isolated from relatives and the rest of the World. They were imprisoned in underground sewage areas covered in human feces, imprisoned in small punishment cells called “gabetas” (drawers) 20” wide x 6’long x 7’ hight), windowless cells, and for years at a time, with no justification, and no specified durations. These harsh living conditions, torture methods with little to no medical care, and public humiliations were meant to break these men and lead them to surrender; on the contrary, Los Plantados maintained a courageous display of stoicism, never before seen in this World, with so much dignity in the face of such a savage tyrant.
PLANTADOS were Cuban political prisoners who endured the harshest punishments. In 1961, the Cuban penal system introduced a rehabilitation program that included the exchange of tan uniforms (batista era uniforms assigned to political prisoners by the Castro regime) for blue, common criminal prison uniforms. Those who accepted the terms, willingly participated in political re-education classes, performed manual labor, were generally treated better, and were allowed more visitations and earlier release from prison. Those who did not accept the blue uniform, stood on principle, and refused at all costs, were called Plantados – the immovable ones. (Planted, immovable)
The first three “Plantados” were: Alfredo Izaguirre Riva (the first), followed by Emilio Rivero Caro and Nerin Sanchez Infante. A year later, they were followed by 21 prisoners; Jose Varona Primelles,(Pepin), Odilo Alonso Fernandez, Eriberto Bacallao Espinosa. (Bacallaito), Gregorio Ariosa Rubio, Ernesto Toledo Lopez, Carlos Moreno Pacheco, Ricardo Vazquez Perez, Israel Abreu Villareal, Pedro Luis Boitel Abraham (died on hunger strike May 24, 1972), Servando Infante Jimenez, Enrique Garcia Cuevas (died on hunger strike, May 23, 1973), Ramon Lezcano, Jose Piloto Mora. (Pilotico), Orlando Almanza, Antonio Vigo Cancio, Roberto Lopez Chavez (died on hunger strike, Isla de Pinos, Nov. 13,1966), Ricardo Rangel Mendoza, Julio Reyes Suarez (Lost his sanity in a punishment cell), Antonio Rodriguez Galano, Juan Perez Baez, and Roberto Pavon Peña. After 1967, they were followed by thousands more.
In the 1980s, a new group of prisoners say they have become the new plantados.
Notable Plantados
Huber Matos
Mario Chanes de Armas, in 1991, after 30 years, he was the last Plantado to be released. He was originally among Castro’s closest allies, participating in the attack on the Moncada barracks thus helping bring Castro to power. He turned against Castro early in the revolution.[1]
Eusebio Peñalver Mazorra, the longest-held black Plantado in Castro’s Cuba at 28 years. He was one of many who participated in the peasant-based Escambray resistance.
Armando Valladares, author of the book, Against All Hope: A Memoir of Life in Castro’s Gulag, his autobiographical story as a plantado
Alfredo Izaguirre Riva: Alfredo A. Izaguirre Riva fought against the Castro dictatorship by joining the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). He was the first Cuban political prisoner who refused to work while incarcerated under the Castro regime. The defiant act of refusing to work later became known as “Plantado.” He was the first Plantado and the only one who never worked.
Nerín Sánchez Infante, Captain (Castro Revolutionary Forces), Anti Castro Guerrilla Leader, Political Prisoner, Imprisoned for 19 years by the Castro regime, (Charge-Causa 947-1961), 1 of 3 original “Plantados”, Founder and Commanding General of the “Ejército Rebelde Juramentado”, Anti-Castro Rebel Army later organized during imprisonment, (Charge-causa: 66-1975), Sentenced to 12 additional years) also known as “O.R.A.C”.(Organización Revolucionaria Anti Comunista). Wrote a book: “Los Plantados”.
Angel De Fana Serrano
www.losplantados.com
The word PLANTADO ™ is a registered trademark. The brand belongs to Miguel Sanchez and “Proyecto Los Plantados, Inc. (Los Plantados Project)
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